Main Dishes and Supper Recipes

Anyone with a family knows how important casseroles (hotdishes) and pastas and other concoctions are to the household food budget. Casseroles are popular contributions to potluck and office parties where food must be pre-prepared.

A casserole is a one dish meal where ingredients are mixed together to be (usually) baked in an oven. Tuna casserole is an example of a popular dish made with canned tuna, pasta and cream of mushroom or celery soup. I like to add cheese and crumbled bits of salty potato chips to the top of my tuna casserole. I was lucky to have a mom with great taste buds and a love for cooking. That's how mom made it and probably the reason I love it made that way.

Macaroni and Cheese, Lasagna, rice dishes and pasta salads are all different types of casseroles. Is pizza technically a casserole?

Shopping List for a Well Stocked Pantry

An organized kitchen is key to saving money on groceries. The less organized the kitchen, the more time is wasted looking for ingredients, finding substitutes, running to the neighbor's house to borrow or driving to the store to potentially pay more for the item in the long run.

Keep this list handy. When you get low or run out of something, cross it off the list or otherwise make a mark so you can plan for the next shopping trip, check sales and make plans on which stores to visit to save the most money. Keep these items on hand and you will always be ready for spur of the moment meals. Adjust can and bottles sizes and amounts according to your preferences.

Stock up on sale items! Realistially a 3 month supply of the basics is a good money saving goal. Most properly stored items can last for years regardless of sell by date. Items to buy in bulk for a more than 3 months supply include paper and chemical products such as toilet paper, paper towels, shampoos and soaps. You don't have to stock up for doom's day to save a few bucks but a supply to three weeks or longer will hold you over in emergencies.

Grocery Staples to Keep on Hand

Pastas:

fettuccine

macaroni

twists

bow ties

1 package long grain rice (2 pounds)

1 (6 ounce) can chicken

1 (6 ounce) can tuna

1 can pitted, black olives

2 cans sliced mushrooms

2 (8 ounce) cans whole kernel corn

2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can (or carton) chicken broth

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of celery soup

1 (8 ounce) can of dried, unseasoned bread crumbs

2 cans (6 ounce) cans tomato paste

2 cans (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans whole or diced tomatoes

1 (24 ounce) bottle red wine vinegar

1 (12 ounce) bottle salsa

1 (3 ounce) bottle seasoned salt

1 (1.62 ounce) bottle seasoned pepper

1 (1.25 ounce) bottle garlic salt

1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning

2 (1.25 ounce) package spaghetti seasoning

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 jar fettuccine sauce

Saltine crackers

Freezer

1 (10 ounces) package frozen mixed vegetables

1 (10 ounces) package chopped spinach

1 (10 ounces) package frozen broccoli

1 (6 ounces) package frozen snow peas

1 pound lean ground beef

1 pound ground chicken or turkey

1 pound grated cheddar cheese

1 pound grated mozzarella cheese

1 pound Monterey Jack cheese

1/2 pound Parmesan cheese (block form, not grated)

1 dozen flour tortillas

Frozen orange juice concentrate

Frozen cooked shrimp

Frozen chopped bell peppers, package of assorted colors

Extras

1 can miniature corn

1 jar Dijon mustard

1 jar Capers

1 jar pimiento

Nuts:

chopped walnuts

chopped or sliced almonds

chopped pecans

shelled peanuts

Wood skewers

Soy sauce

Teriyaki sauce

Minced garlic

Grape jelly (easily makes into a good substitute for sweet/sour sauce)

Materials To Keep On Hand

Paper Trivia: Did you know that you can only fold a sheet of printer paper in half seven times? Give it a try. It doesn't matter how thick or thin the paper is, once you get to the seventh fold, the paper will not bend or budge.

Sun catchers. To create a translucent, stained glass ornaments effect, apply a bit of lemon oil to the back sides of paper ornaments to create a.

Hang the ornaments on trees, in windows, anywhere bright colorful decorations are desired.

Construct a large paper-tree for the wall with shades of green construction paper. Draw a large tree on a sheet of easel pad paper to tack onto a wall or other flat surface, then decorate with paper ornaments.